Residents in Miles Platting, Ancoats and Collyhurst South whose homes have been under threat of demolition since June last year are up in arms at today's decision by Council bosses to give the go-ahead to do up the area, but still with no guarantees that their homes will be saved.
At Tuesday's meeting of the Council's top level Executive Committee, Councillors were asked to give the green light to firm "Renaissance" by awarding them the controversial PFI project. The Private Finance Initiative would see up to 1,600 homes improved in Miles Platting, Ancoats and Collyhurst South, but plans still show over 300 homes to be demolished. Under the deal, a private company will carry out housing modernisation and environmental improvements, and the Council pays back the cost of these improvements over 30 years.
Liberal Democrat Finance Spokesperson Councillor Marc Ramsbottom said:
"Residents have been let down with false promises. They were given promises by senior councillors that their homes would not be demolished if they did not want them to be. Residents have the right to know where they stand after all this time. Yet at today's meeting no such guarantees were given. Labour are saying that over 300 homes will go, but nearly five years since this project began, they still won't openly say where!"
He added:
"What is clear about this process so far is that residents have very little real say in how their area is being shaped. Residents don't want perfectly good homes to be lost, yet this is being ignored by the Council and private developers. They are in the driving seat on this one and it seems that residents' views are being ignored."
Lib Dem Opposition Housing Spokesperson Councillor Paul Shannon said:
"The Leader of the Council would not give us the guarantee that we were seeking on behalf of local residents - if people did not want their homes to be demolished, would their wishes be respected? In fact he stated clearly he would not give such a guarantee, so the campaign to save these homes goes on."
The report also hinted at further possible delays, especially if plans for footpath closures and Compulsory Purchase Orders are opposed. Such opposition could put back plans to start on site which is planned around January 2007.
Lib Dem Councillors also expressed concern at the Council's plans to stop further lettings and rehousing in the area. Cllr Ramsbottom raised concerns about growing anger and frustration from local people waiting many months to be rehoused who will now have to wait even longer to be rehoused.
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